Biomaterials

Biomaterials are classified as natural or synthetic materials which can be used for repair, replace, or regenerate tissues. This field employs the combination of materials science, biological science, and engineering concepts and techniques to design and synthesize biomimetic and bioactive materials to accurately model natural structures and functions in the body.

Vascularization of Biomaterials for Bone Tissue Engineering

Vascularized network generated in a 3D hydrogel

Stabilization of the ECFC-lined capillaries by perivascular cells

Constructs containing both DsRed-ECFCs and MSCs were cultured for 7 d in GelMA hydrogels with different methacrylation degrees. The ability of the MSCs to differentiate into perivascular cells was analyzed by confocal microscopy after immunoflourescence staining with antibodies against smooth muscle markers. a,c) Representative confocal images showing the spatial distribution of the DsRed-ECFC-lined capillaries surrounded by α SMA-expressing MSCs. Higher magnification images depicting details of a capillary (top) and a cross-section image taken in the direction of the white arrows (bottom) are shown to the right of the these images in panels (a) and (c). b,d) Representative confocal images showing the spatial distribution of both DsRed-ECFC-lined capillaries surrounded by sm-MHC-expressing MSCs. A representative video of a rotating 3D reconstruction of confocal images showing MSC-wrapped capillaries is available (Video 2, Supporting Information).